EN
Liang Zhang
Inorganic Chemistry
Associate Professor
zhangliang@chem.ecnu.edu.cn
Chemistry Building
(086)13248015871
Biography
2008-2012 B.Sc. Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
2012-2015 M.Sc. Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Advisor: Professor Zhan-Ting Li and Professor Dan-Wei Zhang2015-2018 Ph.D. School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Advisor: Professor David A. Leigh (FRS)2018-2019 Postdoctoral Fellowship & Team Leader of Leigh ECNU Research LabSchool of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
2020-2025 Zijiang Outstanding Young Professor, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
2026- Associate Professor, School of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Academic Appointments
Advisory Board of Chemical Science
Advisory Board of Chem
Young Editorial Board Chinese Chemical Letters
Prizes and awards
The Sessler Early Career Researcher Prize (2025)
Chinese Scientists with Cell Press Best Paper Award and Author Award (2023)
Shanghai S&T 35U35 (S&T35) (2023)
CCS Physical Organic Chemistry Young Investigator Award (2023)
Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon Prize: Perkin Prize in Physical Organic Chemistry (2023)
National Young Talent (2020-2023)
Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Student Abroad (2019)
CAS Future Leader (2019)
Finalist for Reaxys PhD Prize (2019)
Manchester Doctoral College Best Outstanding Output Award, The University of Manchester (2019)
Outstanding Achievement Award Spring, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester (2019)
RSC Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector (RSC-BMCS) International Travel Prize (2019)
RSC Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry (RSC-MASC) PhD Thesis Award (2018)
Research Interests
Developing synthetic approaches / techniques to realise efficient control over the functionalities of topologically complex molecules
Probing the dynamics and mechanical response of interlocked / entangled molecules by single-molecule techniques
Introducing the topological theory and information transfer approach in the design and synthesis of entangled / woven polymers
Key Publications
Yang, R.; Zhao, X.; Zhang, Z.-H.*; Zhang, L.* Inducing chiral order in synthetic knotted system. Chem2025, doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102855.
Chen, S.; Zhang, Z.-H.; Li, Y.; Chen, Y.; Yang, J.*; He, X.*; Zhang, L.* Implications of weaving pattern on the material properties of two-dimensional molecularly woven fabrics. Matter2025, 8, 102050. Highlighted by: Matter ‘Weave polymers with helical chirality’ (Preview), Kim, J. Matter 2025, 8, 102223.
Du, C.; Padgham, A. C.; Slater, A. G.*; Zhang, L.* Efficient flow-synthesis of a Star of David [2]catenane and a pentafoil knot. Chem2025, 11, 102328.
Zhou, Q.; Dong, X.; Chi, G.; Cao, X.-Y.*; Zhang, N.; Wu, S.; Ma, Y.; Zhang, Z.-H.*; Zhang, L.* Cinquefoil knot possessing dynamic and tunable metal coordination. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 22405-22412. Highlighted by: Chem ‘Post-synthetic tuning of metal coordination on entangled scaffolds’ (Preview), Domoto, Y. Chem2024, 10, 2933-2934.;Sci. China Chem. ‘Knotting ligands to control metal coordination geometry’ (Highlight), Cougnon, F. B. L. Sci. China Chem. 2025, 68, 403-404.; ChemistryViews ‘Molecular knots tied with different metal ions’ 8th Aug.
Chen, S.; Katsonis, N.*; Leigh, D. A.*; Patanapongpibul, M.; Ryabchun, A.; Zhang, L.* Changing liquid crystal helical pitch with a reversible rotaxane switch. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202401291.
Zhang, Z.-H.; Zhou, Q.; Li, Z.; Zhang, N.; Zhang, L.* Completely stereospecific synthesis of a molecular cinquefoil (51) knot. Chem2023, 9, 847-858. Back to Back Articles – Featured on Cover of Chem & 2023 Chinese Scientists with Cell Press Best Paper Award (10 papers across all cell press journals in physical science discipline) & Highlighted by: Chem ‘Stereoselective synthesis of topologically chiral molecular entanglements’ (Preview), Lewis, J. E. M. Chem 2023, 9, 762-764.; Nat. Sci. Rev. ‘Making chiral molecular knots and links stereospecifically’ (Highlight), Stoddart, J. F. et al. Nat. Sci. Rev. 2023, 10, nwad041.
Feng, H.-N.†; Sun, Z.†; Chen, S.; Zhang, Z.-H.; Li, Z.; Zhong, Z.; Sun, T.; Ma, Y.; Zhang, L.* A Star of David [2]catenane of single handedness. Chem 2023, 9, 859-868. Back to Back Articles. 2023 Chinese Scientists with Cell Press Author Award.
Calvaresi, M.; Duwez, A.-S.*; Leigh, D. A.*; Sluysmans, D.; Song, Y.; Zerbetto, F.*; Zhang, L.* Mechanical tightening of a synthetic molecular knot. Chem 2023, 9, 65-75. – Featured on Cover of Chem & Highlighted by: Nature ‘Tied up but resilient: synthetic knots show their strength’ 12th Jan 2023.
Chen, S.; Su, D.; Jia, C.; Li, Y.; Li, X.; Guo, X.*; Leigh, D. A.*; Zhang, L.* Real-time observation of the dynamics of an individual rotaxane molecular shuttle using a single molecule junction. Chem2022, 8, 243-252.
Zhang, Z.-H.; Andreassen, B. J.; August, D. P.; Leigh, D. A.*; Zhang, L.* Molecular weaving. Nature Mater. 2022, 21, 275-283. – Featured on Cover of Nature Materials.
